Two historic milestones were reached this weekend, as the Washington Capitals clinched both the Presidents Trophy as well as franchise record for points in a season.

In Columbus on Saturday night, the team came out on fire again, scoring the games first three goals early in the first period. Starting the second period they seemed to cool off, holding on at the end to secure a 3-2 win. While the team coasted to victory, both the coach's and players continue to stress that they are not just playing out the string. Though, after the third goal was goal was scored, the team looked sloppy, disinterested, and bored. I guess I don't blame them, at some point, it must get fairly monotonous to play out the string in a series of meaningless games, I just worry about them being able to turn it on for the playoffs.

Years ago, it always seemed like the Caps would start slow, and have to turn it on just to make the postseason, seemingly running out of gas when the second season started. Now I worry that they might not get the engine running, when the game really count.

It looks more and more like the Rangers will be our first round opponent. I don't like the matchup, but for my money, New York is not as good as last year and we are far better. I'd rather kick off the playoffs against a team that we have zero playoff history like the Thrashers, as oposed to the Rangers or Flyers.

Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.

It's pretty sweet how they went through the season dominating everyone. Speaking of dominating, how about the 6-3 spanking they gave the happy feet.. I didn't watch the game or the highlights (yet) but 4-0 against the sissy and his team is awesome. I like how we're ending the season with two games at home also, that will give our fans in the stands momentum going into the playoffs. momentum for the fans in the stands..

Hopefully Washington takes a lesson from the Pens opening game and doesn't take this for granted. Get started off right with a win tonight; sweep them in 4; maximize how much rest we get. We're going to need it for some of the later series.

"I’m never under the assumption that you draft for need. You draft the best available football player on the board. ... Because, in the long run, they are the ones who will help you win the most games." - Scot McCloughan

Bru (or anyone else) did you see the game last night? I didn't even get a chance to watch the highlights yet but I heard the score in the car earlier and I started yelling and cheering. LOL.. Did they just play poorly, did Ottawa play that much better or a little bit of both?

langleyparkjoe wrote:Bru (or anyone else) did you see the game last night? I didn't even get a chance to watch the highlights yet but I heard the score in the car earlier and I started yelling and cheering. LOL.. Did they just play poorly, did Ottawa play that much better or a little bit of both?

The Pens goalie screwed them over. He's been the weak link all along, and had his worst game of the season two days ago.

langleyparkjoe wrote:Bru (or anyone else) did you see the game last night? I didn't even get a chance to watch the highlights yet but I heard the score in the car earlier and I started yelling and cheering. LOL.. Did they just play poorly, did Ottawa play that much better or a little bit of both?

The Pens goalie screwed them over. He's been the weak link all along, and had his worst game of the season two days ago.

Oddly, dude becomes Patrick Roy when he plays the Caps

Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.

langleyparkjoe wrote:Bru (or anyone else) did you see the game last night? I didn't even get a chance to watch the highlights yet but I heard the score in the car earlier and I started yelling and cheering. LOL.. Did they just play poorly, did Ottawa play that much better or a little bit of both?

The Pens goalie screwed them over. He's been the weak link all along, and had his worst game of the season two days ago.

Oddly, dude becomes Patrick Roy when he plays the Caps

I got serious about the NHL when I was in college in Chicago. "My" Blackhawks had Bobby Hull, Dennis Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, and the President's Cup, but no Stanley Cup. Some thief named Dryden stole it from them.

So for 2010-11, I hope the Caps do not win the President's Cup, and save their best games for the playoffs!

[Geezer note: back in the '60s we cheered for the Senators, then the Redskins, and then waited for Spring Training. Washington had had a minor league hockey team called the Washington Lions / Presidents that played in Uline Arena, and a founding NBA team, a powerful team called the "Capitols". Coached by Red Auerbach, but broken up around 1951 or '52. Uline only had 7,000 or 8,000 seats, so no NBA or NHL team could make money in DC. TV showed us Celtics games and Montreal games on the weekends. Not that we cared then.]

welch wrote:So for 2010-11, I hope the Caps do not win the President's Cup, and save their best games for the playoffs!

As a Red Wing fan, I totally agree that's the right approach. Going for the President's Cup doesn't have a team focusing on the skills that win in the playoffs. In hockey more then any other major sport the playoffs are just a different game then the regular season. We started learning to win Stanley when we stopped paying attention to Presidents Cups

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